Texas A&M pried Jimbo Fisher from Florida State thanks in part to a fully guaranteed 10-year, $75 million contract, but Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith believes that agreement should be an outlier.
Collin Hass-Hill of The Lantern, Ohio State’s student newspaper, notes Smith said the school will not use Fisher’s deal as a factor in eventual negotiations with Urban Meyer.
“I don’t even put Texas A&M in our sphere because I’m considering Urban’s situation with three years left on his contract. … that’s not even someone that we’re comparing with because it’s so ridiculous.”
Smith added the contract is similar to Alabama and the program’s total salaries, saying it’s best to “take it off the sheet because it doesn’t matter” and has no value.
However, his dig at the SEC programs has a major hole. Ohio State paid Meyer $6.4 million in 2017, per USA Today, and Fisher’s average annual salary will be $7.5 million.
Yes, Ohio State boasts a profitable athletic department — and there aren’t many in college sports — and can afford to pay Meyer a top-five salary. He’s been worth the price, despite his contract being part of the issue Smith criticized.
It’s simply a little eye-rolling to hear Smith say Fisher’s contract is “ridiculous” when Meyer is paid similarly — and might receive more on his next extension.